Italy boasts a rich railway heritage that dates back centuries. Among the earliest locomotives to grace its tracks were remarkable feats of engineering, transporting passengers and goods across picturesque landscapes. Here’s a glimpse into the world of Italy’s oldest trains:
The Diolkos of Ancient Greece (600 BCE):
Long before steam engines, the Diolkos paved trackway in ancient Greece stands as one of the earliest known railway systems. It spanned approximately 6 to 8.5 kilometers and facilitated boat transport across the Isthmus of Corinth. Wheeled vehicles, pulled by humans and animals, ran along limestone grooves, ensuring boats stayed on course1.
Wooden Rails and Horse-Drawn Wagons (1550s):
In Europe, wagonways (early tramways) emerged in the 1550s. These wooden rail systems facilitated the transportation of ore tubs to and from mines. Georgius Agricola’s work “De re metallica” illustrated their operation, marking a significant milestone in rail history1.
The Reisszug Funicular Railway (Austria, 1515):
Cardinal Matthäus Lang described the Reisszug, a funicular railway at Hohensalzburg Fortress in Austria. It used wooden rails and a hemp haulage rope, operated by human or animal power. Remarkably, this line still exists today, making it possibly the oldest operational railway1.
The Metropolitan Railway (London, 1863):
The Metropolitan Railway in London holds the distinction of being the world’s first underground railway. Spanning 4 miles (6.4 km), it revolutionized urban transportation. Passengers traveled beneath the bustling streets, marking a new era in rail travel2.
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